3 Keys to Finding a Locksmith You Can Trust

Learn the 3 keys to successful search for a reliable local locksmith

Have you locked yourself out of your home or car? Do you need immediate help securing your home with new locks after a burglary? You need to find a locksmith, fast. Here are the 3 keys to a successful search that will lead you to a trustworthy company like RBM Lock & Key.

Don’t Rush Your Search

When you have an emergency situation, you will obviously feel a lot of pressure to get a locksmith to help you ASAP. However, it is important not to let this pressure rush you into just hiring the first locksmith you see in the phone book or in your search results. Instead, you need to take the time to consider the locksmith’s qualifications and make sure that they are trustworthy. Taking an extra 10-15 minutes to call a few locksmiths is well worth it if it saves you from hiring someone who will do subpar work and/or overcharge you.

Ask Questions Before Hiring

When comparing the various locksmiths you could call for help, you will want to ask:

• Where is your company based? Some locksmiths have ads or webpages that make it seem like they are a local professional, when in reality they are a contractor for some price-gouging company that may be in a distant city or even in another state entirely. You are much better off choosing a local locksmith—preferably one with a brick and mortar store location somewhere in your vicinity. Local locksmiths like RBM Lock & Key care about their reputations in the community and will work hard to ensure you are happy with their services.
• How long have you been in business? The longer the locksmith has been in business, the better. It means that they must be treating their customers right and doing good work. You may be able to find independent confirmation of this by checking their reviews on sites like Google Reviews.
• How will you solve my problem? If you describe your problem to the locksmith over the phone, they should be able to describe some possible solutions. If the locksmith’s first choice is to drill your lock, this is a red flag that they may not be offering the best service. In most situations drilling the lock is a last resort, and the locksmith will want to see the lock before deciding this is necessary.
• Can you give me an estimate? You absolutely should ask the locksmith to provide an estimate for their work before agreeing to have them come help you. Be sure to ask if the estimate includes any special fees for afterhours calls.

Ask for ID

One final step you should take to double check that you really have chosen a trustworthy locksmith is to ask for some ID when they arrive to help you. Ideally, they should arrive in a marked company vehicle and be able to produce a card showing they are qualified as a locksmith. They should also ask you for some confirmation that you are the owner of the home or car you need serviced.